National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Johnson Space Center2101 E. NASA ParkwayHouston, TX 77058www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson

www.nasa.gov

National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationWHY ARE WE HERE? APPLICABLE TEMPERATURE

RANGES BY HARDWARE

SERVING THE SCIENCE COMMUNITY:HARDWARE CAPABILITIES,

COORDINATION, INTEGRATION, AND OPERATIONS

C O L D S T O W A G E

WHAT IS COLD STOWAGE?

HOW DO I REQUESTCOLD STOWAGE?

CONTACT US

NASA’s vision for humans pursu-ing deep space flight involves the collection of science in low earth orbit aboard the International Space Station (ISS). As a service to the science community, Johnson Space Center (JSC) has developed hard-ware and processes to preserve collected science on the ISS and transfer it safely back to the Prin-ciple Investigators. This hardware includes an array of freezers, refrig-erators, and incubators.

The Cold Stowage team is part of the International Space Station (ISS) program. JSC manages the opera-tion, support and integration tasks provided by Jacobs Technology and the University of Alabama Birmingham (UAB).

Cold Stowage provides controlled environments to meet temperature requirements during ascent, on-orbit opera-tions and return in relation to International Space Station Payload Science.

The Cold Stowage team is dynamic, and provides inte-gration/support to PDs through launch, on-orbit opera-

tions, and landing.

In most cases, Cold Stowage assistance doesn’t end until the science has been safely handed over to the PD.

Please contact us and find out how Cold Stowage can help make your experiment even

cooler.

Payload Developers (PD’s) use an ISS Program tool, OZ (Payload Office) Requirements Baseline and Inte-gration Tool (ORBIT), to request Cold Stowage support by filling out a Cold Stowage Form. ORBIT can be accessed at the following website:

For more information on Cold Stowage, including existing

Cold Stowage Forms, a current Cold Stowage Plan,

and to request Cold Stowage Testing, visit the following

website: jsc-coldstowage@nasa.gov

Email:

https://iss www.jsc.nasa.gov/nwo/payload/oz2/web/ColdStow.shtml

https://orbit.iss.nasa.gov/

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Passive Active

Visiting Vehicle Range

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AN INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION PROJECT

https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=20170003854 2020-03-23T13:32:35+00:00Z

Ice Bricks are designed to provide cooling or incubation to scientific spec-imens requiring specific tempera-ture ranges during transport to/from the ISS. They are designed to work with other insu-lated transporters (e.g. DCB, MCB)

to maintain specific temperatures between -32°C and +37°C. Ice Bricks are reconditioned using active hard-ware (MELFI, Glacier, Polar, MERLIN).

Double Coldbags (DCBs) have highly insulated walls, and are de-signed to carry payload science at controlled temperatures by utilizing Phase Change Material (PCM) to maintain specific tem-peratures for a prolonged period of time. The DCB is rectangular and fits in a single mid-deck locker. It is commonly used to transport science to and from the ISS on visiting vehicles.

Mini Coldbags (MCBs) are similar to DCBs, but are significantly smaller. This coldbag has been optimized for return on a Soyuz vehicle. The MCB can also be used within the Microgravity Science Glovebox (MSG) as a means to immediately begin cooling samples after collection.

Polar is a single middeck locker-sized cryogenic freezer. The primary function of Polar is to provide cryogenic preservation of science samples aboard the ISS and thermal control in visiting vehicles. Polar is designed to support experiments that require temperatures between +4°C and -95°C.

MERLIN is a single middeck locker-sized incubator/fridge/freezer. The primary functions of MERLIN are to provide temperature-specific environments for samples aboard ISS and thermal control in visiting vehicles. MERLIN is designed to support experiments requiring temperatures between +4°C and +40°C for launch/return, and -20°C to +48°C on ISS.

The Minus Eighty degree Laboratory Freezer for the In-ternational Space Station (MELFI) is a refrigerator/freezer used to preserve science samples on the ISS. MELFI has four insulated dewars which can be set independently to +2°C, -35°, or 95°C. There are currently 3 units on the ISS.

The Glacier is a double middeck locker-sized cryogenic freezer. The primary function of Glacier is to provide cryo-genic preservation of science samples aboard the ISS and thermal control in visiting vehicles. Glacier is designed to support experiments that require tempera-tures between -95°C and +4°C for launch/return and –160°C to +4°C on ISS.

The Cold Stowage Lab is located at JSC in Building 7, Room 2004. Hold tests, fit checks, and thermal tests can be performed by request within the lab. Equipment

in the lab allows the Cold Stowage team to test articles at temperatures ranging between -152°C to +200°C.Cold Stowage also utilizes a lab at Kennedy Space Cen-ter (KSC). The lab at KSC is used for active hardware processing, passive hardware conditioning, and payload turnover in support of Visiting Vehicle missions.

ICE BRICKS

DOUBLE COLDBAG

MINI COLDBAG

POLAR

MERLIN

MELFI

GLACIER

ACTIVE HARDWARE

PASSIVE HARDWARE

COLD STOWAGE LAB

Flying experiments on the International Space Station is a unique opportunity to eliminate gravity as a variable and provide exposure to vacuum and radiation